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There are some shows where everything connects: The setlist, the sound, the audience. And when everything connects, it’s like riding a wave that just doesn’t come down. And the wave just kept going higher..in this case for 4 hours straight. On December 31^st New Years Eve, I accepted a show at the Madison Avenue Pub, a Toronto institution. I played the piano room, altering between piano and guitar, while being a Ryan Seacrest host for the New Years countdown (a first for me) for 100+ people. As a way to finish off the year, this was the gig of the year, because of the hysteria the songs I played caused. I’m not sure if it was the alcohol (I didn’t even drink that night), but people went nuts, screaming, clapping, jumping on tables, etc. And I just watched them, knowing that the songs I’m playing are causing this wonderful chaos. They didn’t want me to stop. The amount of compliments, screams and smiles was insane, I was pretty flattered. I never needed support, or anyone to tell me I was good as a musician/performer, but some of those comments were like ego steroids (which I’ll use when needed). Happy NY 2015.

I remember seeing huge acts like the Rolling Stones, and U2, and noticed that from the beginning of their set to the end, their clothes changed via their wardrobe personal. I noticed that they had lots of layers on in the beginning and by the end they were down to just a t-shirt, and non of the fluff from the start. Not that I have anything better to do (even though I have enough ideas to keep me busy for 3 lifetimes), I have now adopted that sort of theory, where I start my shows at Set 1with glasses, jacket, and maybe a hat. Set 2, it goes to no jacket, just glasses, Set 3, it’s no glasses, no jacket, just a vintage old t-shirt. This proves no point at all, and there’s no reason to do it, but in some weird way, it does make one play songs differently form the ‘inside’ because less layers make it more ‘real’ and less ‘showbiz’. All my show’s in November adopted this outlook. Here’s set 2 at Ned Devines and a Fionn McCools.

Anyone who’s a musician will tell you, you never say ‘no’ to a gig, if your available. You will do it – because you love playing live and it’s always good to flex the music muscles. In this case, I flexed my music muscles and my legs, as I got a last-mintue call to perform at a great Toronto pub called St.James Gate on a Saturday from 9pm – 2am, then slept for 3 hours, and ran 5K for the Toronto Waterfront Scotiabank run. The irony is that because I passed out after the show, I literally ran the 5K with my gig clothes underneath my running attire. I challenge anyone to do this, because it was mad experience. I’m just happy I got my medal without passing out.